Turbulence reduction around magnus rotors

ABSTRACT

A wind energy conversion machine using a Magnus Rotor to generate force from the wind. A Magnus Rotor is mounted atop special support structure which is far enough away from the surface of the Magnus Rotor to minimize air turbulence around the Rotor. In one embodiment Rotors are mounted on a long horizontal rod supported by a vertical pole on either end. The poles themselves are mounted on a pivot so the Magnus Rotors are faced to the wind. In a second embodiment Magnus Rotors are concentric in their axes with the axis of the supporting pole. The rotors are made to spin in opposite directions and the pole made to swing 5-20 degrees on a fulcrum. First one rotor is shielded from the wind so the pole is swung one way, then the other rotor is shielded so the pole is swung the other way. The movement of the pole in either direction operates an electric generator. 
     By minimizing air turbulence around a Magnus Rotor Performance is enhanced. A Magnus Rotor which is properly designed can be made to generate far more force than an airfoil or sail.

This invention is a Continuation-in-Part of patent application Ser. No.11/985,200 filed Nov. 13, 2007.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

a. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a wind energy conversion device and morespecifically one powered with Magnus Rotors.

b. Description of the Prior Art

Air pressure at the earth's surface is 14.7 lbs./sq. inch. This is abouta metric ton/sq. foot. So a cubic foot of air weighs about a metric ton.If this cubic ft. of air is made to move 10 miles/hour the the powerdeveloped is over 56 horsepower. So theoretically wind energy can supplyall of man's energy needs. There has been some progress in extractingthis energy. In order to do so at 100% efficiency a perfect vacuum mustbe somehow contrasted with normal air pressure in close proximetry toeach other. Airfoils are used to cause a mild pressure difference whichis enough to lift aircraft, and in the form of a propeller to spin windturbines to produce electricity. Wind turbine efficiency is severelylimited since a great deal of the wind energy blows through thepropeller arc without affecting performance. Sails have been tried (seeU.S. Pat. No. 7,157,805 to Mooring) and this is a step forward since allthe kinetic energy of the wind may be processed by the device. Mooringpoints out the wind is forever changed in its speed. He mounts a Squarerigged sail on a pole which serves as a long lever. as the sail is madeto swing back and forth by the wind the lever is made to operate gearsand springs to operate an electric generator. But the problem remains toincrease as much as possible the coefficient of drag and/or lift so morepower can be produced over the same frontal area of whatever shapedenergy collector is atop the pole.

A Magnus Rotor is a spinning cylinder. If it is spun so the peripheralvelocity is the speed of sound then air pressure next to the cylinderdrops to zero. Spun in a wind the air is sped up on one side of thecylinder and retarded on the opposite side so the cylinder is drawntowards the vacuum created by the spinning, which is called lift, andpushed on the cylinder's opposite side towards the vacuum.

According to Flettner (U.S. Pat. No. 1,674,169) and specifically claims20-24 and FIGS. 27,28 we see a wind machine with airfoil blades replacedby Magnus Rotors. In the Figures we see the plane of the rotors tiltedbackwards. This is so a rotor does not come too close to the pole as arotor is made to swing past this supporting pole.

Turning to Hanson (U.S. Pat. No. 4,366,386) We see in FIG. 1 anarrangement where the Magnus Rotors are located behind the pole inrelation to wind direction. This feature is to reduce the effect ofturbulence from air passing by the pole onto the Magnus Rotors.

In Holland (U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,013 which is based on experiments doneby Holland under U.S. Dept. of Energy grant FG46-79R610969 issued June1981, various relevant conclusions were reached:

1. end plates fixedly attached to the Rotor and larger in diameter Thanthe Rotor itself and were spun at the same velocity as the Rotor wereineffective in reducing induced drag on the end surfaces of the Rotor.see columns 27,28.

2. Designing a Rotor which is made to spin rapidly and at the same timebe made to whirl around a central hub rapidly, produces singular dragproblems.

Other problems were recognised in the Holland experiments and dealt within designing the present invention.

In Mooring (U.S. Pat. No. 7,157,805) we see a sail mounted on an uprightpole. This pole is made to swing back and forth according to the guttingof the wind. As the pole is made to swing around a fulcrum at the bottomof the pole, gears and springs cause a generator to be operated,generating electricity. Mooring points out the wind is forever changingits velocity. But the problem remains to increase as much as possiblethe coefficient of drag and lift so more power can be produced over thesame frontal area of whatever shape of energy collector is atop thepole.

Sails have another advantage over a propeller in that solar cells can bespread over them to generate more electricity. See eg. U.S. Pat. No.5,131,341 to Newman. This extra electricity can be used to operateMagnus Rotors of this invention. Flettner, Hanson, and Holland havetheir Magnus Rotor's external skin passing close to their supportingpoles, cutting down on the possible velocity at which the Magnus Rotorcan be revolved. The faster the Rotor is turned the more power can bedeveloped by their inventions.

The lift force developed by a Magnus Rotor is shown by theKutta-Joukowski Lift Theorem: F=(rho)BU(gamma) in which:

F=the lift force developed, in pounds,(rho)=the specific weight of air,B=the length of the rotor, in feet,U=the wind velocity, in feet/second, and(gamma)=the value of the circulation (2piRn/60) (2piR) in sq.ft./sec. inwhich 2piR is the rotor circumference and n=revolutions per minute

It is the principal object of this invention to keep the external skinof a Magnus Rotor as far away from the support structure as is practicalto maximize power output of an operatively connected wind energyconversion machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Magnus Rotors are mounted atop a pole, with their driving motors. TheseRotors, in the First Preferred Embodiment are located so their externalskin is made to surround the supporting pole. The pole serves as a leverwhich is made to operate a mechanical transmission which in turn is madeto operate an electric generator. The rotors are made to spin inopposite directions and the pole is allowed to swing only 5 degrees fromupright. As the pole's travel is ended in one direction a shield ismoved to uncover the other Rotor and shield the first Rotor from thewind, forcing the pole to reverse its direction and further generatemore electricity.

In a Second Preferred Embodiment two poles are used, rotateable about asingle pivot and standing vertically. On the upper ends of these polesare a shaft suspended between them. This shaft serves as a hub aroundwhich are mounted Magnus Rotors. A gear mechanism transmits the energyof the rotating shaft to an electric generator located at ground level.

In both Preferred Embodiments the mass of the pole or poles isaerodynamically eliminated as a cause of turbulence around the surfaceof the Magnus Rotors used by the invention.

The attainment of the foregoing and related objects, advantages andfeatures of the invention should be more readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art after review of the following more detaileddescription of the invention, taken together with the drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the Magnus Rotors and basic aerodynamicstructures of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the First Preferred Embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the Second Preferred Embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning to FIG. 1 we see a structure common to both PreferredEmbodiments. Telescoped around pole 3 are pipes 4,5. To pole 3 areattached aerodynamic fences 6,7,8, and 9. To these fences are fixedlyattached tails 6 a, 7 a and 8 a. Fixed to fences 6,7,8 and 9 and pipes4,5 are thrust bearings 17,17 a 17 b and 17 c to which are affixedMagnus Rotors 1,2 so these Rotors may be revolved with pipes 4,5. TheseRotors are activated by motors 11,11 a fixedly attached to pole 3through shafts 13,13 a which are operationaly connected to Magnus Rotors1,2 by pullies 14,14 a, belts 15,15 a and also pullies 16,16 a which arefixedly attached to pipes 4,5. Container 7 a is fixedly attached betweenfences 7,8 and is fit around motors 11,11 a to protect them from theweather. It is streamlined in shape in the same direction as tails 6 a,8a and fences 6,7,8, and 9.

First Preferred Embodiment

Turning to FIG. 2 we see the structure of FIG. 1 mounted on pole 3. Nearthe bottom of pole 3 a pivot rod 31 is extended through-pole 3 and issupported by brackets 30 rested on support 32. This support in turn isrested on pivot 33 which is made to lie below ground. The pivot point ismade to rest on metal surface 33 b and is encased by tube 33 a looslyenough so pivot 33, pole 3, fences 6,7,8,9 and tails 6 a,7 a,8 a andfixedly attached support 32 may act as a weathervane.

Gear support 23 is fixedly attached to pole 3 above pivot rod 31. Gearrack 24 is fixedly attached to the underside of gear support 23. Spurgear 26 is made to mesh with gear rack 24 and is connected by shaft 25to speed changer 27. Electric generator 29 is also connected by shaft 28to speed changer 27.

Motors 11,11 a are fixedly attached to motor support 3 c. The assemblyof FIG. 1 may be formed to slide up and down pole 3 or poles 3 a,b byaffixing motors 11,11 a to a separate support parallel to pole 3 orpoles 3 a,b (not shown) by means of a pulley atop the pole or poles witha cable from the separate support run through the pulley and to theground.

Air shield 18 is restrained by runners 19 a,b and is operated by cables43 a,b which suspend air shield 18 and are made to travel throughpulleys 21 a,b respectively and then to motors 22 a,b which are spooled.Pulleys 21 a,b are suspended from bar 20 at the top of pole 3.

Within pole 3 is a sealed bubble of hydrogen (not shown) to offset theweight of pole 3 and all the equipment attached to it.

In operation motors 11,11 a cause Magnus Rotors 1,2 to spin in Oppositedirections. Air shield 18 is raised or lowered to cover the surface ofeither Rotor. Due to the Magnus Effect, in a wind pole 3 is made to swayone way or the other about pivot rod 31. This motion is restrained bystops 45 a,b. When pole 3 touches either of these stops air shield 18 ismade to cover the other spinning rotor to reverse the motion of pole 3about pivot rod 31. Air shield 18 is moved through the agency of cables43 a,b, Pole 3 is turned about pivot 33 as wind blows past tails 6 a, 7a, and 8 a if they are made large enough. Otherwise instrumentsdetecting wind velocity can feed information to a central processingunit which can in turn be made to operate a motor to revolve pole 3 sotails 6 a, 7 a and 8 a are downwind. Pole 3 may be thrown 20 degrees outof vertical and the presence of a hydrogen chamber within pole insuresthat the weight of pole 3 and its attachments will not be a factor indetermining the electrical power output of the invention.

As pole 3 is made to swing back and forth about pivot rod 31 themovement of gear rack 24 revolves spur gear 26 and thus electricalgenerator 29. Pole 3 should be designed to arc slowly, which accountsfor the presence of speed changer 27 located between spur gear 26 andgenerator 29. Torque on spur gear 26 has proven to be high so evenseveral speed changers may be used.

Second Preferred Embodiment

Turning to FIG. 3, those parts of the First Preferred Embodiment whichserve the same functions as in this Preferred Embodiment are numberedthe same.

Support 32 is formed as a long square pipe resting on pivot 33. Restedon each end of support 32 are square pipes 35 a,b placed normal tosupport 32. Rising vertically from each end of support 32 are poles 3a,b. A round rod 37 is supported by the tops of poles 3 a,b by ballbearing mounts 46 a,b. Round rod 37 is therefor parallel to support 32.Fixedly attached to round rod 37 is motor support 44 a to which areattached Magnus Rotors 1,2 and the fixedly attached tail and fencestructures, 6,6 a, 7,7 a,8,8 a and 9 so these assemblies will berevolved with round rod 37. Mounted axially on round rod 37 is bevelgear 38. Meshed with bevel gear 38 is a second bevel gear 39. Mountedaxially to bevel gear 39 is shaft 40 which is extended to operativelyconnect with speed changer 27 which is rested and bolted to support 32.Brackets 41,42 restrain movement of shaft 40 and tie shaft 40 to pole 3a. Speed changer 27 is operatively connected to electric generator 29 byshaft 28. Cables 36 a,b,c,d restrain movement of poles 3 a,b and areconnected from the tops of poles 3 a,b to the far ends of square pipes35,35 a. Tail 47 serves as a weathervane.

In operation, as wind blows past Magnus Rotors 1,2 and tails 6 a,7 a,and 8 a and these Rotors are spun, round rod 37 is revolved and thepresence of speed changer 27 in the power transmission apparatus38,39,28 insures that this revolving will be at a slow rate to reducestresses on the Rotor assemblies. Round rod 37 will be long soturbulence from air passing poles 3 a,b will have minimal effect onRotors 1,2. Likewise, in the First Preferred Embodiment the location ofpole 3 within Magnus Rotors 1,2 insures a minimum of turbulence aboutthe Rotors.

In both Embodiments the location of tails 6 a,8 a insures an increase indesired lift force on poles 3,3 a and 3 b.

From the above description it is apparent that the preferred embodimentsacheive the object of the invention. The above embodiments of theinvention are provided purely as examples. Many other variations,modifications and applications of the invention may be made. These areconsidered to be equivalent and within the spirit and scope of theinvention.

1. a wind energy conversion machine comprising: a. at least one magnusrotor means, and b. structure means for reducing air turbulence aroundsaid magnus rotor means selected from the group of (1). a long rod meansserving as a hub around which said magnus rotor may spin, said rod meanssuspended on both ends by vertical poles and pivot means to pivot saidrod means so wind may be made to blow along the length of said rod meansand against the peripheral surface of said magnus rotor, and (b). polemeans located as the axis around which said magnus rotor means may bespun, said pole means mounted on a pivot means, so said pole meanscannot create turbulence around the surface of said magnus rotor means,c. an electric generator means, and an energy transmission meansoperatively connected to said magnus rotor means and said electricgenerator, so as said magnus rotor means is operated in a wind thenelectrical energy is produced.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein saidmagnus rotor means further includes aerodynamic tails located on theside of said rotor furthest from oncoming wind and fixedly attached toupper and lower endplates of said magnus rotor, said tails and endplatesmade to weathervane around the axis of said pole.
 3. The invention ofclaim 1 wherein said pole means further includes a chamber within saidpole means filled with hydrogen so the weight of said pole means and allparts of the invention connected to said pole means is offset wheneversaid pole means and said connected parts are forced out of a verticalposition.
 4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said energy transmissionmeans further includes: a, a first bevel gear mounted concentricallyaround said rod means, b. a second bevel gear mounted parallel to a polemeans so said first and second bevel gears mesh, c. a transmission shaftextended from said second bevel gear to a speed changer so said secondbevel gear is operatively connected to said speed changer, and d. ashaft operatively connecting said speed changer and an electricalgenerator, so as said said rod means is revolved electrical energy isproduced.
 5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said energy transmissionmeans further includes: a. a pole mounted on a fulcrum fixedly attachedto a pivot around which said pole may be rotated around its axis, b. agear rack fixedly attached to said pole and located in a position normalto said pole's axis, c. a spur gear made to mesh with said gear rack,and d. a speed changer operatively connected to said spur gear and to anelectric generator, said spur gear, speed changer and electricalgenerator being fixedly attached to said pivot so as said pole is madeto rotate about said fulcrum back and forth, electrical energy will beproduced.
 6. The invention of claim 1 wherein said magnus rotor meansfurther includes a field of solar cells spread over the peripheralsurface of said rotor.
 7. The invention of claim 1 wherein said magnusrotor means further includes a transfer means for raising and loweringsaid magnus rotor means on said pole means.